It’s your first home, or maybe you made some mistakes when purchasing a property once before, so you’re not feeling so confident. You’re excited about the prospect of getting a good buy in today’s market, but you want to feel you’re making the right choice. You may feel ready to ask your REALTOR for a tour of homes, but first, here are a few tips to remember before setting out:
Know your Credit Score.
Get Pre-approved with an experienced, reliable lender, so you’ll know what you can afford. This will also help your REALTOR to be able to show you homes within your price range.
Create a Long-Term Budget. Don’t get caught short of cash, somewhere down the road. Make sure you have enough reserves.
Don’t forget about taxes, insurance, utilities, and other possible fees.
Work with a REALTOR who has experience and “know-how”, who will help you every step of the way, including negotiating, answering vital questions, and being there for you when you need advice. A good real estate agent will return your calls within 24 hours, but a great agent will get back to you as soon as possible.
Prioritize your “Gotta-Haves” and “It-Would-Be Nice-to-Haves”, and understand that each home will most likely have a bit of each, but will seldom fulfill all your desires.
Get a Home Inspection, and choose your own Home Inspector, so you are confident there will be no conflict of interest. Your REALTOR will surely be able to give you a list of professional inspectors, but in the end, it’s your choice.
Know what you’re getting into. If the Home Inspection Report lists too many expensive repairs, don’t be afraid to cancel the contract, and continue your home search for a home in better condition.
Know your neighborhood. Show up at various times of day and night to check it out, before you make the move. Be aware of noise, or any other factors that may make the area undesirable to you.
Resale Value. Consider what you pay for your home, and whether it will hold its value over the years. Life has many surprises for us. You may want, or need to sell sooner than you think. Be prepared.
This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life. Don’t hesitate to call as I will be there for you throughout the entire home buying process.
Your HomeReach Certified Agent,
Bonnie Maffei
760-730-2191
With a fresh and hopeful New Year spread out before us, let’s take one last brief look back over our shoulders. Here’s a peek at the December 2009 coastal homes market in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Carlsbad:
If you’re not a millionaire just yet, but you’re looking for a home near the beach, or the golf course, there are still some great buys out there! These are just a few of the hot listings, in “Million Dollar Locations”, that just hit the market!
If you’re looking for a new town house near the beach, The Lofts at Moonlight Beach has it all. What a location! Just 3 blocks from the ocean, you’ll hear the waves roll in and breathe in the fresh sea air! Still in its development stages, there will also be some commercial units offered below the residential units. A short jaunt to downtown restaurants, shops and other great amenities, it’s the place to be. Check with Bonnie for the latest updates on price and availability of these and other beach condominiums and town houses. 
Nature lovers who haven’t yet discovered one of Encinitas’ best kept secrets, the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, are in for a treat. Not only is it the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and habitat for hundreds of species of birds, but you’ll find over 300 plant species within its 900 acres. Walking along the waterside trails you can sometimes see and hear the fish slap their tails as they leap out of the water. 
Visit the Nature Center and learn all about the history of this unique lagoon, or take in the spectacular views from the second floor observation deck. The beautiful modern structure makes use of natural and recycled building materials, abounding with energy efficient features throughout. Since its grand opening in January 2009, the Nature Center and Reserve has been open to the public with no admission fee. The parking lot includes handicapped parking and, get this, a special parking spot for hybrid vehicles! Now that’s just plain eco-friendly. 
